On balance, they'd rather see natural gas-powered electricity
plans than coal-powered ones. "We are glad to see these
coal plants go," he says. Plus, natural gas is the feedstock
for chemicals, pharmaceuticals and fertilizer, and for
direct heating and cooling

Any potential hazards can be regulated. "Effective
oversight and enforcement with the necessary financial and
human resources [can] make [regulations]
real.

He closes thusly:

Natural gas production can never be made entirely safe;
like any intensive industrial activity, it involves risks.
But having studied the issue closely, we are convinced
that if tough rules, oversight and penalties for noncompliance
are put in place, these risks become manageable.